Band-cutter and feeder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. A. SMITH. BAND GUTTER AND FEEDER.

No. 426,077. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. A. SMITH.

BAND GUTTER AND FEEDER,

Nn. 426,077. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

Witwe/awo 1 hwmtqz @51j @Mom/n 2 s f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN A. SMITH, OF ATLANTIC, IOWA.

BAN D-CUTTER AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,077, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed December 20, 1889. Serial No. 334,380. (No model.) Y

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Band-Cutters and Feeders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in band-cutters and feeders for thrashing-machines, and the novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the box or casing containing my improved mechanism for feeding and cutting bundles of grain. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View. Fig. t is a View of the knife removed. Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the feeder-bars carrying fingers; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the feeder-bars, taken in the plane indicated by the line y q/ of Fig. 5.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates a box or casing, which is designed to receive and inclose the operating mechanism. This box or casing is designed to be attached to the thrasher in the ordinary manner.

B indicates the top plate of the casing. This top is provided at suitable points with parallel slots o, which are designed to permit the proper movement of the feeder bars or fingers, as will be presently explained, and in advance of these slots c, and relatively at right angles thereto, is an elongated slot b for the passage of the knife or cutter.` lVithin this box or casing are suitable bearings c and d, which are designed to support a horizontal shaft O, on which is fixed a number of pulleys or band-wheels b', h2, and b3. These pulleys Vary in size or diameter, as shown, and are designed to receive the drive-belt from the thrasher, the large pulley being designed to receive the belt that runs over the crankshaft at the tail end of a thrash er. This shaft O, which carries the band-wheel, is provided at one end with a beveled gear-wheel D and meshes with a similar gear-wheel E, fixed on one end of a double-crank shaft F. This double-crank shaft has its bearings in cross bars or strips e, and also carries about midway of its length a fixed beveled gear f, which meshes with a similar beveled gear g, the latter being arranged on a shaft G, to the outer end of which is fixed a wheel H, which is eccentrically connected with one end 0f the knife or cutter I, the opposite end of said knife being connected withv a pivoted arm K, which latter is connected with the fixed bar or strip c, so that the knife may be allowed a vertical reciprocatory movement. It is obvious that instead of having a wheel, such as II, on the shaft G the said shaft may be cranked at that point and connected with the cutter, so as to impart the desired movement thereto.

Journaled in the bearing-strips e is a doublecrank shaft L, which is arranged parallel to the double-crank shaft F, and the crank p0rtions of these two shafts are connected by the feeder-bars M, so that when the shafts are rotated the crank portions thereof will impart a vertical reciprocation to the feeder-bars. These crank-shafts are also provided at opposite points with fixed chain-wheels 71 and said wheels are connected by an endless chain N, so that when the crank-shaft carrying the beveled gears has been rotated the chain wheels and belts will impart a corresponding rotary movement to the crank-shaft -L, and consequently a vertical reciprocation to the feeder-bars.

From the construction illustrated it will be seen that the movement of the feeding mechanism and the cutting mechanism is synchronous and that both are geared with a common powershaft. It will also be seen that all of the mechanism is hidden from view and protected from injury by being inclosed within the box or casing A.

The feeder-bars M, which are provided with eyes near opposite ends to receive the crank portions of the shafts F and L, are preferably beveled on opposite sides at their upper longitudinal edges, as shown at d, so that they may partly enter the slots a in the top of the casing, and. these beveled edges are provided with a suitable number of vertically-disposed pins or studs Z, which are designed to pass through the slots at each reciprocation of the IOO 'presently explain ed.

4ends a movable arm R.

Y bars and feed the bundles toward the knife or cutter.

The knife I,I have shown as provided with teeth, Which are designed to pass up through the slot b to cut the rope or cord of a bundle; but it is obvious that any suitable form of cutter might be employed.

Secured to opposite sides of the case or box Aare vertical standards P. These standards are provided With longitudinal slots m, Whereby the saine may be vertically adjusted and secured at any desired position to the casing. Journaled in the upper ends of these standards is a horizontal cross-bar Q, to which is secured a shield and presser, which will be This shaft Q, which is journaled in t-h'e standards P, so that it may turn therein, has secured to one or both of its This arm R, which depends from the end of the shaft Q and is fixed thereto, passes through a guide r in the 'side Wall of the casing, and has its lower end connected with a spiral or coil spring S, the opposite end of said spring being suit-ably secured, so that the lower end of the arm R will be drawn rearwardly and the shield or presser secured to the shaft normally held in a depressed position. Secured to this partiallyrotatable shaft Q are forwardly-curved arms t, Which extend beyond the slot Z) in the boxA or casing for the passage of the cutter, and secured to these arms t is a plate T of sheet metal or other suitable material, a slot or interspace u being left in the plate or shieldy above the slot h in the casing, as shown, so that in operation the knife may not strike the said plate. By this construction it will be seen that We have a shield or presser which may be vertically adjusted with respect to the box or casing, and which will press upon the bundle with sufficient elasticity to hold the saine in proper position While the band is being cut. It will also be seen thatthis presserplate is higher at the entrance end of the bundle, so as to facilitate the introduction of the latter.

In operation, when the presser or shield has been set at the desired position and motion has been imparted to the shaft C by a belt from the thrasher, such motion Will be imparted through the medium of the bevel-gear to the double-crank shaft F and simultaneously therefrom through the bevel-gearing f and g and the chain N and Wheels fixed to said crankshaft to the cutter and feeder bars, respectively. Thus When a bundle is placed upon the top of a box or casing it Will be carried through the action of the feeder-bars and their fingers beneath the presser and over the knifeslot, Where the said bundle Will be held in position While the band of the bundle is being severed. The next bundle being moved by the feeder-bars or their fingers Will force the cut bundle away from the knife and place the uncut one in a position to receive the blade.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. In a band-cutter and feeder, the co1nbi nation, With the box or casing, of the main drive-shaft having a bevel-gear at one end, the double-crank shaft having a bevel-gear meshing with the gear on the power-shaft, the gear f, secured to said crank-shaft, the knife-shaft having a Wheel at one end to connect with a knife and a bevel-gear at its opposite end, the double-crank shaft L, the chain-Wheels and endless chain connecting the crank-shafts, and the feeder-bar carrying pins and secured to the crank portion of the shafts, substantiallyT as specified.

2. The combination, with the box or casing, of the vertically-adj ustable standards secured thereto, the shaft Q, journaled in said standards, the forwardly-curved arm secured to the shaft, the slotted plates secured to the arms, the arm secured to one end of the shaft, the stop-guide on the side of the casing and receiving said arm, andthe spring connecting the lower end of the arm to the casing, substantially as specified.

3. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination, with the box or casing, ofthe slotted standards vertically adjustable thereon, a presser formed with a slot and ljournaled in the standard, and an arm having its upper end fixed to the shaft of the presser and its lower end yieldingly connected to the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN A. SMITH.

Vtnesses:

C. R. GRAHAM, Jr., GEO. E. PENNELL. 

